Former vice chairman Basten now begins his three-year tenure and says he is looking forward to the challenge of taking the Guild forward, pledging his support for all involved with the Guild and “working together for the common good”.

Basten, who has been a Craft Guild member since 1999, has played an active role in the Guild’s culinary team competing in the Culinary World Cup competitions in 2002, 2006, 2010 and the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012, winning a host of medals.

He is a classically trained chef who learnt much from apprenticeships with celebrated chefs John Burton-Race and Raymond Blanc where he gained valuable Michelin star experience.

In recent years he has been executive chef at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall and at Great Fosters in Egham, Surrey. Currently, he is chef lecturer at Westminster Kingsway College in London responsible for teaching the culinary arts to level 1, 2 and 3 students.

Longstanding Craft Guild member Lee Maycock, who is chef director of his consulting business, was elected as national vice chairman.